Lucasfilm announced the cast additions today, though rumors of Nyong'o meeting with director J.J. Abrams had swirled following her Oscar win. Fans couldn't help but feel crestfallen when Nyong'o was not among the initial cast announced. That announcement only referenced one woman aside from a returning Carrie Fisher: newcomer Daisy Ridley. The dearth of women in the cast raised Internet eyebrows, but the Hollywood Reporter's Borys Kit quickly reported that Abrams had "another substantial role to fill" for a woman.

Nyong'o is also set to voice Rakcha in Disney's new Jungle Book adaptation, and Christie will appear in the final installments of The Hunger Games series.

In the meantime, expect the Game of Thrones and Star Wars fan communities to converge nicely/crazily ...

News reports are focusing on the Germanwings pilot's possible depression, following a familiar script in the wake of mass killings. But the evidence shows violence is extremely rare among the mentally ill.